Effective immediately, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (DOH-Escambia) is issuing a health alert for the following area in Escambia County, Florida:

Piedmont Road, between Summit Boulevard and Tronjo Road in Pensacola Florida, 32503

The portion of the sewage system serving the residential homes on Piedmont Road in the Cordova Park subdivision was severely damaged in the recent flood. DOH-Escambia, at the request of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) is urging residents in the area to avoid discharging any household effluent into this part of the sewage system while ECUA operates to repair the breach. DOH-Escambia and ECUA are working in conjunction with the City of Pensacola who has contracted with consulting engineers Hatch Mott McDonald to repair the related street damage. The City of Pensacola, ECUA, and DOH-Escambia are making every effort to enable residents in the affected area to remain in their homes while the system is being repaired. DOH-Escambia and ECUA are assisting in coordinating sewage relief measures for the affected households to include:

• Portable toilets (4-5 per location) placed at approximately 7-10 locations along the affected area;
• Portable hand washing station located at each portable toilet location;
• Portable showering facilities located intermittently in the affected area, if possible.

The above actions are being taken to eliminate all usage of the water with the exception of water for cooking and drinking from being discharged into the affected area. We understand that water usage will continue for drinking and cooking purposes; however, all other usage of the potable water must cease once the above facilities have been installed in the affected area. If sewage continues to be found in the affected area DOH-Escambia may have to make arrangements for the water to be shut off to the affected area.

In addition to the alert above, DOH-Escambia wants to emphasize that all flood waters including surface waters will be affected with potentially high bacteria counts due to the excessive storm water runoff and sewage overflows.

We will continue to monitor the situation until the alert is rescinded. Further updates will be released as information becomes available. For more information, contact the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County at 850-595-6700, ECUA at 850-476-0480, or the City of Pensacola at 850-436-5627.